For the third consecutive year online purchase scams were the most reported scam by Nebraskans to the Better Business Bureau. Online purchase scams were considered the riskiest scam type for all consumers nationwide. Nearly three-fourths of reports involved a loss of money.
Spokesman Josh Planos says in Nebraska, online purchase scams accounted for 42% of all scam reports in 2022, up from 39% a year ago. Employment scams (8%) and phishing scams (7%) rounded out the top three.
Planos says according to the BBB Scam Tracker nearly one-fifth of scam reports filed by Nebraskans occurred on a website, followed by phone (17%), social media (16%) and email (15%).
The BBB is providing some tips to help prevent you from becoming a scam victim in 2023.
1 – A little caution goes a long way
It’s easy to kick yourself in hindsight after you get scammed, but if you take some steps to be cautious, you won’t have to. Caution requires a little skepticism, a bit of awareness, and a dash of patience.
First, always be wary about people you meet online. Scammers use dating sites, Craigslist, and other sites to reach potential victims. They may even begin to feel like a friend or even a romantic partner, but this is all part of a plan to get them to trust you.
Fake emails are something to be aware of. Don’t click on links or open attachments in your junk mail. If you see an email from Amazon, make sure it’s actually from Amazon and not an email address pretending to be Amazon.
Scammers…
